Revenues from External Customers (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 179,445	$ 166,833	$ 350,014	$ 329,872
Plasma Disposables
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	64,408	56,514	127,168	112,431
Blood Bank Disposables
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	53,840	51,040	103,018	98,671
Blood Bank Disposables | Platelet
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	42,195	39,746	79,504	76,063
Blood Bank Disposables | Red Cell
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	11,645	11,294	23,514	22,608
Hospital Disposables
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	29,160	28,939	58,270	58,955
Hospital Disposables | Surgical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	16,206	16,011	31,948	32,362
Hospital Disposables | OrthoPAT
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	7,295	8,281	15,049	17,238
Hospital Disposables | Diagnostics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	5,659	4,647	11,273	9,355
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	147,408	136,493	288,456	270,057
Software Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	17,199	16,125	35,359	32,585
Equipment and Other Related
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 14,838	$ 14,215	$ 26,199	$ 27,230